Can Batman and Superman be revived longterm?

[yoda313]

Hi,

I was wondering now that there are new Batman and Superman movies on the horizon will both franchises be revived???? Just because they're making new movies doesn't mean they will be successful.

I'm not sure about batman - I haven't seen the trailer for the movie yet but a prequel sounds at least like its different. I have greater hopes for Superman since the director of Xmen 1 and 2 - Bryan Singer - is over seeing the project. And he says he's going to use the first Superman movie as a guide. That sounds very promising as that was clearly the best of all of them.

Well what are your thoughts??? Are these franchises doomed to box office failure or will the "next generation" save them?

Kevin

[jimmalenko]

Interesting ... I guess all SCI-FIs have their fanatics to bloat the figures and make a new generation seem as popular as ever - just look at the Trekkies and Star Wars fans ... but I personally wasn't a huge fan of Batman. Superman OTOH ... anyone that does it is going to be compared to the incomparable Christopher Reeve, so they're pretty big shoes to fill ...

But all that said (and on a bit of a comic-book hero and movies tangent here), I thoroughly enjoyed the two Spidermans FWIW.

[yoda313]

Hi,

Hmm..... I wasn't that found of Spiderman 2....

But yeah how does anyone compare to Reeve as a movie Superman??? Gonna be really tough to do.

But regarding Star Trek at least, The Next Generation starring Patrick Stewart is still considered the best of all the Star Trek tv series. It was superbly done and executed. They finally had some money for decent special effects and an excellent cast.

Kevin

[jimmalenko]

Hmm..... I wasn't that found of Spiderman 2....

It might be the big softie coming out in me, but I actually thought Spiderman 2 was better than 1 ...

But regarding Star Trek at least, The Next Generation starring Patrick Stewart is still considered the best of all the Star Trek tv series. It was superbly done and executed. They finally had some money for decent special effects and an excellent cast.

As you can probably tell, SCI-FI isn't really my scene. I prefer a bit more reality in my movies. My brother (2 yrs older than me) was heavily into all the SCI-FIs of the 80's abnd 90's - he watched the damn things so much I think he scarred me for life ...

[yoda313]

Hi,

jimmy - yeah being overdosed at the wrong time can turn you off to one form of entertainment. Though if you like Spiderman don't be afraid to try other action movies that veer toward scifi

Kevin

[jimmalenko]

There's one form of "entertainment" I always overdose myself on ... always seems to turn me ON though ...

[Shadowmistress]

X-box?



They're making another Batman movie?!? For God's sakes, why??? Aren't the ones with Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney enough? And haven't we overdosed on Superman yet with Lois & Clark and Smallville?

I never did understand the superhero craze.

[pacmania_2001]

Spiderman 2 was better than 1 but they both were pretty sucky, not worth the praise they got.

It'll be interesting to see how the new super hero movies go.

[jimmalenko]

X-box?

You COULD call it that .....





..... I suppose .....

[adam]

shadowmistress, the batman is going to be a prequel. I think they will use it as an excuse to go back to the dark and more subtle style of the first Batman rather than the corny over-the-top slop that made all the sequels so bad. I think it might be good. If it captures any of what the original Baman had, it should do alot to redeem the Batman series. I believe Christian Bale is going to play Batman and I think he can pull it off.

As for Superman, I have less faith in this series. I sorta like Smallville but I think it ruined the movie series. Just too many inconsistencies and too much liberty taken with the superpowers. Everybody and their mother in Smallville has superpowers. It makes the eventual "superman" character anticlimatic.

And can someone exlain something to me? In the movie Superman, Lois is a little girl (8 maybe 9 yrs old) when she sees a teenaged Clark Kent outrun the train. Yet in Smallville isn't she alot older than Clark?

[dukenukem]

I'm not too sure about the next superman movie,the batman one just may be good hope it doesn't disaapoint me.Too bad the only real batman adamwest isn't allowed in any batman movie because he rocked.

[vhelp]

I agree about the Lois women too. Just too confusing.

I was thinking that she was tossed (from the future) by superman
himself with whatever energy left in him (due to an accident or
some catastrify or something) and in an effort for Louis to find
something (in the past - aka, Smallville) that he needs to recover
from.

But, they confused or killed this, because, in the last episode of
SMV, they killed Louis (though you don't see the body - only the leg
laying on the ground) and they never really focused on her till the
end, which was only a few seconds or so. Still very cofusing.

So, unless she was smarter than the "trader" and that body (never
seen) is someone else, or Lex only knows a partial truth, or something
other confusing, I don't know

But, I had that same thought about Lois, and the train scene
Seems like a Paradox has opened up.. or the writer F'ed up the story,
adding more instult to the whole arena of stupidity of currupted
time-lines (ie, Star Trek Enterprise, now being taken off the air)

On another note..

Are there others out there (like myself) who are starting to feel
the move to kill off shows/movies, and start from scratch, but with
the flavor of more "seriousness" or "realism" ??
(ie, Batman; Superman; and a few others)

-vhelp 3287

[Cole]

I usually enjoy superhero films, but the problem I had with the Reeve Superman ones (and to a certain extent the Spiderman and Bixby Incredible Hulk 70s TV series), having read loads of the comics in the preceeding years to when they first came out, I was always disappointed that they didn't use any of the comic's Super Villans. Where was the super powered Lex Luthor, Mr Myzzixxeis (however it is spelled), Brainiac etc?

Here we had super powered characters battling normal people (as a child, I prefferred Superman II because they were Super powered baddies). I think New Adventures of Superman (as it was known in the UK - I think it's real name was Lois and Clark) suffered the same problem alot of the time.

But at least the more recent Spiderman, Batman (and to shoe horn a British comic title in here) Judge Dredd did use the Super Villains from the comics. In the case of Spiderman and Dredd, lifting an acutal story from the comics (don't know if this is the case with Batman).

Oh alright then - upon reflection, Superman II was also (very) loosely based on a story that appeared in the comics., but it wasn't high profile. The Spiderman Goblin story was classic.

Anyway, getting to the point - Superman has had the big screen treatment, Batman has had the big screen treatment. Spiderman is having his time now and so are the X-Men (haven't seen those; didn't read them, I wasn't made of money as a child! ) - and well over due is the Fantastic Four (which has now been put right). But rather than bring Batman/Superman back again surely there is a wealth of Superheroes to try out instead?

As for Batman - for me, nothing is going to beat the Animated Series

Just my two penneth.

[jimmalenko]

I usually enjoy superhero films, but the problem I had with the Reeve Superman ones ... I was always disappointed that they didn't use any of the comic's Super Villans. Where was the super powered Lex Luthor ... etc?

Lex Luthor was in Superman 1, 2 & 4, played by Gene Hackman - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000432/

[adam]

In the comics Lex built a full body suit that gave him super powers on par with Superman's. That's what he's talking about and I kinda agree.

The villian in Superman 4 was superpowered too, but he was just plain stupid.

[ViRaL1]

For those who haven't already seen it.

http://movies.apple.com/movies/wb/batman_begins/batman_begins-tlr_480.mov

[lordsmurf]

The villian in Superman 4 was superpowered too, but he was just plain stupid.

This movie was sloppy. He was originally supposed to have been Bizarro. The script was changed several times, before it gets to what you see. Supposedly there is an extended S4 also (the first three have extended ones, unreleased), but have never seen it.

More trivia:
In Smallville, Adam Knight (Adam West, Dark Knight .. get it?) was originally supposed to have been Bruce Wayne (Batman), but the story was changed.

.
.

Superhero stories are here to stay.

[Cole]

I did indeed refer to the super powered Lex Luthor.

Just a last comment about Super Hero films of late. In the comics many of the Super Villans used to return on a regular basis; but the habit in the movies is to kill them off at the end of their appearance.

So no reapearance of the Joker, Norman Osbourne's Goblin (only in Harry's head) or Doctor Octopus... No chance of a 'Sinister Six' Spiderman movie then

[Jester700]

I like the more "realistic" versions, too, but IMO they have to have some attention to detail and a director who is into the originals. The first Keaton Batman had a great look, but Batman was supposed to be as much about physical prowess and skills as it was about his toys and psychological issues. Burton missed part of it. Then the series got stupid.

Reeves' first film was a GREAT version for its time - he remains my mental picture of Superman. Then he atrophied a bit and the scripts got worse. And worse.

I don't count ANY of the TV shows as part of the "storyline", because they always take too many liberties. They have to, to make a show every week. This doesn't mean they're bad shows, of course. I enjoyed a Smallville here & there.

But I wonder how many "redoings" the public will stand. I guess if it's once a generation it'll work fine, since so far the characters have proven timeless. But I'd like to see period pieces. Batman & Superman set in the 30's would be a whole 'nother thing.

And there are many other heros that could be done. Flash & Green Lantern would be 2 of my faves. Or the old WARLORD comic by Mike Grell - I loved that one. Not a superhero, but I bet it'd make a cool movie.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

the new Batman movie isn't supposed to be a pre-quel so much as a 're-imagining' of sorts.
as far as Superman goes, I thought Dean Cain did a pretty good job in the TV show, not to mention the fact that he definitely has the right look.

I've always thought Green Lantern (the REAL GL that is, Hal Jordon, not that little bitch Kyle Raynor or the big cry-baby John Stewart) would make an awesome movie/movie series. And now that CG technology has advanced so much, they could actually do it.

[yoda313]

Hi,

Well the first Keaton Batman did have a bit of a period look to it. Granted it was set in modern times but many of the accents and moods were old school.

But your right jester700 - a period piece for a superhero movie would be cool. One attempt at that was the critically acclaimed but poor showing of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. I enjoyed the movie but not enough did. It was an alternate reality movie set in the 40s. It was cool in that all the technology was period stuff. No internet, no cell phones, etc......

Kevin

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I really looked forward to Sky Captain, but I was somewhat disappointed when I saw it.
The premise was good, it's just that the concept was poorly executed.
The writing was just bad.
The story seemed rushed.

[adam]

You guys seen who they got playing Superman? He looks more like a Backstreet Boy to me.

I guess this is how the uniform is going to look. They toned down the red and made it look more rubbery. I guess it looks pretty good.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

that's gotta be a joke!
that guy's not big enough to be Kal-El...
the costume looks like ass.

[vhelp]

Wait.

Give yourself some time for this to soak in. I mean..
Look at smallville. Now, everyone loves it. Anways.

My point is, that in the beginning, we are all apprehensive about
certain change and things, including costumes and stars, but later
on, we fall in love with it all, in the end.

OT..
But looks like too much padding was consentatreated on his upper areas
instead of his lower areas.. oh well

I'm looking forward to the movie, becasue I know it (they) will
all look good in the end. They almost always do.

I'm a fan of Reeves first one. It was a sure classic. He was much
more serious in that first one. Everything clicked perfectly.
(though, the second one wasn't so bad either)

-vhelp 3302

[ViRaL1]

I think Spacey will make a good Lex Luthor. Not sure about the rest of the cast.

[smearbrick1]

There was nothing "period" looking about the original Batman. In case you haven't noticed, every Tim Burton film has that same look. In fact, I think you could take Edward Scissorhands and replace his character with Batman and still have the same movie. Looking back on Tim Burton's Batman, it looks awful small. All of the scenes seem very tightly shot, and there's never any real feely of expanse or size that really brings the "gothic" feel of the movie together.

This next Batman movie promises to make amends for poor story execution in the Burton Batman films and complete and utter gayness of the Shumacher Batman films (ice skating?). Just hope that John Peters is not the Executive Producer. You can pretty much bank on the fact that it will suck. (I.E. Wild Wild West)

[AlecWest]

This is a preview of "Superman Returns" as mentioned on one site:

What's it about? Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.

Hmmm ... interesting dilemma. A mysterious absence of several years is all well and good for an "immortal" like Superman. But, Lois Lane? She's not quite ready for Social Security yet but, well .... this may give a whole new meaning to the term "May/September romance." Of course, in the first Superman movie, there was a wee bit of time travel involved to save Lois' life after the earthquake. Perhaps this flick will dabble in the time travel realm again.